Massac Unit One school board approved a deficit budget at its regular board meeting held Sept. 24 and as Unit One Superintendent Bill Hatfield emphasized, it was the second deficit budget that has been passed in his years as superintendent.

The normal board's agenda was suspended to hold the budget hearing, during which Hatfield pointed out the budget shows the district will receive $18,607,000 and will spend $18,904,000 and indicates the district would be spending about $300,000 more than it is taking in.

According to Hatfield, the budget deficit is a result of money received last year — for maintenance projects — that will be spent in this school year. Hatfield also noted the district also had a deficit budget during his first year with Massac Unit One.

However, Hatfield also told the board that some of the money came in last year. He also noted that salaries should be less than last year, noting the salaries would be down by $105,000 over last year's budget. He also noted that most all of the district's employees received a two percent raise. He also mentioned the first payroll of this school year, was actually $4102 less than last year's first payroll. "We are saving some money," he said, noting the first payroll in 2012 was $444,986 and the first payroll of this school year was $440,884.

According to Hatfield, another item that will cost the district less is the liability insurance, which would be reduced by $180,000 from last year.